Sean S.

With the assistance of his wife, my nomination is for my nephew SSG Stoddard. He began his service at the age of 11 when he and his friend were involved in the rescue of a woman kidnapped, beaten, and left in the trunk of her own car for dead. The rescue was featured on many radio, news stations, and newspapers. As a Boy Scout he achieved Eagle Scout. He joined the Army in 2003 and was deployed eight hours after completing basic training to Cuba where he conducted detainee operations for a year. Upon return he was sent to Military Police Investigator’s Course and was hired by the Mesa Police Department as a Police Officer. After he graduated from the Academy he began his Field Training and married his high school sweet heart 13 days before again being deployed to Iraq for a year. While deployed he and his platoon of Military Police Soldiers lived on a small patrol base, where he trained and mentored Iraqis in soldier and police skills. Upon return from Iraq, he returned to the PD where he finished field training and also completed AR15 School. Additionally during this time the Army sent him to Conventional Physical Security School, leadership schools, and was sent to Germany and conducted Law and Order operations. He was selected to train with the German Army, earned the German Qualification Badge, given honorary Edelweiss by the German soldiers, and featured in a German magazine. After returning from Germany, his family celebrated the birth of their child. Throughout this time he attended ASU where he is close to finishing his degree. He was deployed to Afghanistan for a year where he trained and mentored Afghan’s in military and police Skills. During this time he would send home recordings of him reading to his family from Afghanistan. Hardly being home two weeks, and already hearing talk of another deployment he is spending time with his family, return to the Police Department, and return to ASU to finish his degree. Some of the awards he has been awarded include Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, and several Army Achievement Medals.

Signed,
Doug Opie